The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-11-17
and the last batch of bread made l had
to throw it to the hogs"


noiselessly arose from her seat and ap-
preaching the dresser upon which the
pie stood, peered curiously into the
apertures in the crust, her sharp face
expressing eager curiosity.
'rll bet you a ninepence she didn't
know enough ter put crackers in. I
wish't l could get one look, inst to
satisfy my own mind, she added. And
determined to accomplish her object at
half hazards she ran knife deftly
around small portion of the edge, and
inserting four inquisitive fingers, lifted
the brown crust and took glimpse of
the contents.
A look of unmitigated disgust passed
over her face. Dropping into con-
venient chair she actually groaned
aloud:
"Well, l never! an we payin' that
man five hundred dollars a year, be-
sides donation at Christmas. Ough"
Unsuspicious Mrs. Graham, as she re-
turned with the yeast, was somewhat
puzzled by the sudden frostiness of her
guest, who hurried out of the house as
if some dreadful contagion had haunted
it; but when the minister, in carving
the pie that the deacon's wife had sent
made two curious discoveries almost 81
multaneously, the reason for Patience's
altered demeanor was made plain, and
the young pair had hearty laugh that
made the old parsonage ring like a peal
of Thanksgiving bells.
The Tuesday following was the rcgu-
lar day for the weekly sewing circle,
and seldom had that interesting gather
ing proved so lovely and animated as on
this occasion, well nigh bursting with
some important secret that she was only
waiting fitting opportunity to divulge.
That opportunity was not long in COM
ing, for Mrs. Dea. Farrell, who was
constitutional, cto..KeI, took occasion to
say, in reference to the hard times:
"The deacol had been tryin' ter col
lect the churcl tax, and he says he never
found money-o tight in all the years
.hcs- lived -hqp. It's as hard to git five
dollars now as it used to be to get ten. !"
"And no WONDER" spoke up Miss Pa
tience, with the stony severity of a
sphinx. "You can't expect folks to feel
like payin' out their money when
they see it fairly thrown away an
wasted"
Everybody looked curious, and some
of the younger girls began to bride de-
family. The minister's sweet young
wife was evidently favorite with them,
at least.
"What do you mean by that2' asked
Mrs Farrel, pointedly. "Mrs. Graham
is young and inexperienced, to be sure;
but as the deacon was sayin' only yes
terday, she does very well indeed con
sidering."
Patience tossed her head knowingly.
81 don't want to say nothing to hurt
her, but livin' next door as do, can't
always help seein' and hearin' things
that other folks can't be expected to
know about, and when see and know
things like"
There was an ominous pause, and the
deacon's wife asked excitedly:
Like whatI"
"Chicken pies, with legs and feet Of
the chicken baked in2'
Had thunderbolt fallen among them
it could not have caused greater surprise
to those tidy, thrifty New England
housekeepers than this dreadful revela-
ton of the incapacity of the pastors
young wife.
care you sure of it9'' gasped one ma.
tron, breaking the ominous silence. 90
know it for a fact" was solemnly re.
turned
"Cnlcken legs III PIE.
"She's a born fool" calculated the
deacon's wife, Indignantly, "and I'm
thankful for her poor husbands sake
that sent her over one of my pies yes
terday. They had to throw hers away,
of course, and it's lucky that he didn',
have to go without his Thanksgiving
breakfast on account Of her ignoranc,
an shiftlessness.
"How did you know about the pie9'
, asked one of the girls.
Miss Patience bristled defantly
'That's nobody's business but my own,
. she retorted, tartly. Il don't 60 rounC
to find out things that don't concerl
, me, I'd have you know, but whel
they're thrown right into my face, a
you might say, don't shet my eyes NJ
, more'n other folks"
, Just here the door opened, and il
walked the subject of their converse
ton, her pretty face glowing with tn
1 haste that she had made, and mis-
chievous twinkle in her brown eyes tha
r nobody noticed, so occupied were the.
hiding the confusion that her suddel
entrance had created.
t Walking to the table where most o
| the ladies were sitting, she saluted then
' cordially; and then holding out upo
t the tip of her slender finger well-worl
t silver thimble, she said archly-
b "Where do you think | found you
thimble, Miss PatienceT
y So pleased was Miss Patience to regal
I her lost treasure that she forgot for
: moment all assumed dignity and eS
b claimed joyfully:
, "Well, declare, | am glad to Sc
n | o,oa to1I Mar